With Trent Alexander-Arnold’s imminent arrival to the club, a Real Madrid veteran is reportedly set to depart after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Real Madrid are preparing for a new era ahead of the 2025–26 season, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti stepping down and a series of new signings aimed at reshaping the squad. As part of this transition, a domino effect has reportedly been set in motion, as a team veteran is expected to depart after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following the imminent arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Xabi Alonso is widely expected to succeed Ancelotti as manager, and the club has already made moves in the transfer market—most notably securing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen in a deal worth $66 million. But with new arrivals, some players will inevitably make way, and Vázquez appears to be one of them.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Lucas Vazquez is set to leave Real Madrid as a free agent at the end of the season. The Spaniard is expected to be part of the squad for the Club World Cup in the United States before bidding farewell to the club that developed him.
Once an attacking winger, Vazquez has evolved into a dependable right-back, stepping up during Dani Carvajal’s absence due to his severe injury. He featured in 49 matches across all competitions in 2024–25, scoring two goals and providing seven assists, and wore the captain’s armband in 22 of those appearances.
But with Carvajal returning to full fitness and Alexander-Arnold set to join the club, Vazquez is expected to fall to third in the depth chart. With his contract expiring in June and at age 33, the veteran is now likely to explore new opportunities elsewhere.
A heartfelt farewell for a club icon
Vazquez is a product of “La Fábrica“—Real Madrid’s youth academy—and Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team. After a brief stint with Espanyol, he returned to Madrid in 2015 and has been part of the first-team setup ever since.
Though often used as a rotation player, Vazquez has remained a consistent presence through one of the most decorated eras in the club’s history, contributing to all 23 of the team’s trophies during his time.
Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu on Matchday 38, in what is expected to be a farewell match for both Ancelotti and Vazquez. The game will mark Vazquez’s 400th appearance for the club—a milestone that, while it may not be his last match, signals a fitting tribute to a player who has long embodied the spirit of Los Blancos.
